Streaming has surpassed cable as America's most-watched viewing platform

Streaming services now command a greater share of viewers than cable, data published by Nielsen show.

Streaming services now command a greater share of viewers than cable, data published by Nielsen show.

That means apps like Netflix and other streaming platforms capture 38% of all television viewing, compared with 31% for traditional cable, the data show.

In a sign of streaming's rapid rise, as recently as May 2021, the shares were 26% for streaming and 39% for cable.

But as of last month, YouTube alone accounted for nearly 9% of all TV usage, while Netflix captured 8.2%.

Netflix touted the overall jump in streaming as a percentage of all TV viewing in its quarterly letter to shareholders Wednesday.